Row aside, B’s plan is fresh

By Carl Harper
| Mon, September 24, 2012 - 12:00 AM

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Andrew Bynoe, being a Government senator during the Barbados Labour Party administration, should know how “political footballism” works. Sometimes it can work for you; other times, against you.

If this Democratic Labour Party Cabinet gave the approval for B’s Recycling to commence operations at Bagatelle, without first satisfying the Town Planning Department and the Environmental Protection Department, this project was destined for certain controversy.

I am however a supporter of the sorting, recycling and exporting efforts of B’s Recycling.

This is the preferred way to handle our garbage as opposed to the dumping and burying that existed at the Metal Dump over the years.

B’s Recycling is bringing much needed foreign exchange into our ailing economy, while many other companies are just spending it.

We have already seen a decline of $63 million in foreign exchange for the year so far.

I am not sure what assurances, if any, were given to B’s Recycling thatit could commence works without an environmental impact study (EIS), but the site has operated before as a metal dump/landfill by the Sanitation Services Authority – and no EIS was required, to my knowledge.

The hazardous asbestos dump at Rock Hall in St Philip is located upwindfrom two residential developments – again no EIS.

Whether we have interests on the platinum coast of St James or St Peter, or in the rolling hills of St Thomas, we all want to live comfortably on this beautiful island we love.

Incidentally, this new project at Bagatelle presents perhaps for the first time in our history someone willing to give up prime beachfront real estate for a dump.